Flexible pipe-joint.



W. A. GRBENLAW.

FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT.

APPLIUATION FILED APILM, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909..

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e:.50 ber which has threaded t rvr' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN A. GREENLAW, OF MELROSE HIGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO* THE GREENLAW MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- 'rIo'N or MAINE'.

FLEXIBLE PIPE-JOINT.

To all fwtom it 'ma/y concern:

Be itr known that I, WARREN A. GREEN- LAw, a citizen of the United States 'of America, and a resident of MelroseHighlandsy in 5 the county of Middlesex and State of Massae chusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Pipe-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

.A This invention relates toiexible pipe 10 joints and has for its object the production of a device whereby two ipe members may be joined` together so t at they may be moved into positions at various angles to one another, while at the same time leakage may be effectually prevented.

It has for a further object the provision of -such a joint in which one of the pipe members is provided with a ball end adapted for insertion within an enlarged chamber in the placement therefrom by .means of an articuated connector interposed between said ball end of one ipe member and the enlarged end of the ot er pi e member. Y .It has for a furt er obj ect the provision of means whereby the two pipe members are separated by means of a suitable spring acting upon a packing interposed between said members, which packing will be caused to impinge more firmly. upon the outer surface of the ball end and the inner wall .of the surrounding member whenever said ball lend is gioved farther within said enlarged 'cham'l er. Y

It consists further in certain novel fea-y tures of construction and arrangement of p arts which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings Y srepresents a horizontal section, the cutting plane being on line 3-'3 on Figs. 1 and 2.

SimilarA characters designate like parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings, 10 rejlresents a pipe mem# ereto at 11 the cupber 10. .The cooperating pipeJ member 14 -has'ghthreaded or,otherwise secured/'thereto a -'b`allg` endg15which is adapted for insertion v Specification of Letters Patenti Application led April 24, 1908. Serial No. 429,097.

ported in seats 24 formed other pipe member and prevented from dis-A Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

into the chamber 13 and is provided on its inner wall with diametral seats 16 adapted to receive the ends of a cylindrical cross member 17 having midway of its length'a bent ortion 18. When the member 17 is in p ace the lowest point 19 in the concave portion of the bend 18 is in the center of the ball 15. This concaved ortion forms a seat for a link connector 2() t e op osite end of which is provided with a simi ar seat 21 in the bent portion 22 of a member 23 extending diametrically across the inner end of the cupshaped end 12 and having its outer-end supupon said cupshaped lend.

Inter osed between the .outer surface of the ba 15 and the inner wall of the cup shaped end 12 are a pluralityof packing members 25 which mem ers are adapted to pack the joint between the cup-shaped end 12 and the ball end 15 and prevent leakage from the chamber 13. These acking rings 25 are forced into'contact wit the wall of the chamber 13 and the outer face of the wall 15 by means of the spring 26 bearing upon a follower ring 27 interposed between said spring i 26 and said packing rings 25.

v It is obvious that the ring 2() limits the outward movement of "the ball 15 while at the same time it is free to move in any direc' tion about the point 19 .to permit the pipe members 10 and 14 to be moved into positions at various angles to each other. During such movement about the center 19 the packing rings 25 will effectually operate toprevent yleakage. Should any strain -be rought to bear to cause the ball end 15 to move farther into the chamber 13, the spring 26 will act upon the packing rings 25 to force it, against the walls of the chamber A13 and the outer face of the ball end 15, thus more effectually packing the joint and resisting the movement of the ball end in that direction, the spring 26 returning the parts to their normal position as soon as the cause of amovement in this direction has been removed.

It is believed that the operation of the invention and the many advantages of a joint of this kind will be thoroughly understood without further description.

Having thusP described my invention, I

claim: 'i

' 1; In-a flexible pipe joint, the combination of .a-'pipe member provided with a cupvber within and extending ed to prevent the outward movement of said ball end interposed betweensaid members and universallyr supported on each.

2. In a flexible ipe joint, the combination of a pipe mem )erprovided with a eupslia ed end; a second ipe member having a bal-shaped end positioned in said cupvof which rest Within ball-sliaped member secured lsaid seats having a central bend `a'connecting link between seats therein said seats having a central bend therein;

shaped end and having diametral seats on its inner wall; a diameti'ical member the ends said seats; a member, within and extending diani'etrically ol' said cup-shaped end; and a link interposed between aiid positioned at the center ol said members. adapted` to prevent the outward movement of'said ball end.

3. In a flexible pipe joint, thel combination ol' a pipe member provided with a eupshaped end; Va second pipe member having a end provided with diametral seats therein; a cylindrical member within said seats having a central bend therein; a within said eiipfshaped end; and a connecting link between said members.

4'. In a flexible pipe joint, the combination of a pipe member provided with acupsha ed end; a second pipe member having a bal shapedr end provided vwith di'anietral seats therein; a cylindrical member within therein; a ciip-shaped end; said members; and a spring-pressed packing between the member secured within said 4outer surface of' said ball end and thel inner wall of said cupshaped end.

5. In a flexible pipe joint, the eonibination of', a pipe member provided with a enpsliaped end; a second pipe member having a ball-shaped end provided with d iametral a c ','lindrical member `within a member secured within said cup-shaped end; and a connecting link between sind` members, the bearing point between which connector adap end; a second -pi and said bent said ball. n

6. In apflexible tion of a pipe mem er provided with a cupshaped end; a cylindrical member secured thereto having diametral seats atits inner e memb shaped end provided with dimetral seatstherein a diametrical member the ends of which rest in theseats on said ball end; a diametrieal member the ends-of which rest in the seats on said cylindrical member; `and ii, connector between said diametrical memiers.

7. In a flexible ipe'fjoint, the'combination of a pipe mem er provided with a cupsliaped end; a cylindrical member secured thereto having end; a second pipe member having a ball'- sliaped end provided with diametral seats therein; a diametrical member the ends of which rest in the seats on said ball end; a diaiiietrieal member the portion being at the center of connector between said diametrical members; a packing between the outer surface pipe joint, the combinaer having a balldiametral seats atLv its inner ends of which -rest in the seats -on said cylindrical member; a v

of said ball end and the innerv Wallof said cylindrical member; and a spring interposed between said packing and thegdiametrical member seated on said cyliiidiidal member.

8. In a flexible pipe joint, the'combina` tion ol' a pipe mem ier provided with a cup-Y shapcd end; a second pipe member having a ball-sliapcd end provided with diametral seats therein; a cylindrical diametrical member the ends of which ist within said seats; a member within and extending' diametrically of said cup-shaped end; a connector between saidmembers; a packing between the outer surface of said ball end and the inner wall ol' said cup-shaped member; -anda spring interposed between said packing and` the member extending diametrically of the cup-shaped end.

Signed by me at 7 Water st.; Boston, Mass., this 15th day of' A iril,\1908 A WARREN `REENLAW.

- Witnesses: I

WALTER El LOMBARD,

NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

